Policewoman Elected President of Kosovo

Atifete Jahjaga, Kosovo's new President (left), with US President George Bush back in 2008. Photo by 21.tv

Kosovo's Parliament has elected President Atifete Jahjaga, the first woman to become head of state in the brief history of the republic as an independent state.

36-year-old Atifete Jahjaga is a high-ranking police commander without any political experience.

Her election comes as a compromise among some of the major political parties allowing Kosovo to avoid early parliamentary elections.

The ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and the opposition Democratic League of Kosovo agreed to elect Atifete Jahjaga, a high-ranking police official.

Atifete Jahjaga became the third President of Kosov since September 2010; her predecessor Behgjet Pacolli was ousted with a ruling of the Kosovo Supreme Court over election violations.

Pacolli was voted President by the Kosovo Parliament two months after the snap general elections in December. Since February 22, 2011, Pacolli has already welcomed foreign delegations and has managed to make one official state visit abroad, to neighboring Macedonia.

Pacolli's election as President came several days after Kosovo celebrated its 3rd year of independence from Serbia – declared on February 17, 2008.

The Kosovo president is currently chosen in parliament, however the main political parties have agreed to change electoral laws to introduce popular presidential elections in 2012. 

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!